Gate-latch



S. A. SLAUSON.

GATE LATCH. APPLICATION Hum MAR. 10, 1919. nguzwso on. 16. I920.

1,360,040. Patented Nov. 2 1920.

UNITED STA'llES PATENT OFFICE,

srnrnnn A. SLAUSON, or CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

GATE-LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

Application filed March 10, 1919*, Serial No. 281,820. RenewedOctober 1c, 1920. Serial No. 417,481.

To all to/1.0m it may concern W Be it known that I, STEPHEN A. bLAusoN, a citizen of the Unlted States, residing at 01 which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to gate latches, and is more specially adapted for use with the heavler class of such closures,

such as farm gates and the like. It can,

. however, be modified as to size or form so that it can he employedwith gates or doors of a sitnaller type. One of the purposes of my device s to provide a simple means for holding a gate at a central point, so as to be easily released from either side of the gate, and which Wlll he selt locking upon the gateheing swung shut in either direction. It can he provided in either simple or compound form, the purpose of the compound arrangement being to duplicate the latch mechanism at a point near the bottom of the gate, to prevent the smaller animals from pushing the lower part of the gate away crowding through. H

Another object of myinv'ention is to prox idesecondary locking means whereby the latch mechanism will he held from casual releasehy animalsrubhing against the gate at the latch end thereof.

These and other purposes and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following specification, reference heing had to the drawings accompanying the same, in which, 1

Fgureyl'. is a side elevation of the" latch end of the gate and posttowhich the same can be secured, with my device shown in use thereon in compound form. Fig. 2is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a view of the simple form ofmy device, ingside elevation with one of the latches raised. Fig. 4 detail of one of the guide plates 6, in front elevation;

Corresponding" parts are indicated by similar reference chziracters throughout the severalfigures'.

' Referring to Fig; 1 or the drawings, 1 in dicates a post or otherfixture, and 22the bars at one end of a gate of usual construction, such ha-rs heingnnitcd hy apair of cross-plates 3, preferablyinthe form of angle pl ates and bolted tojeachlot the bars for the purpose of bracing the same. Pivr'i'omthe post, and.

oted to the gate structure, by means of bolts or pins extending through the braces 3', are pairs of latches l, projecting beyond the end ofthe gate, and normally in engagement with keepers 5 on the outer face of the post 1. The gate isthus held against a swinging movement upon its pivots ineither direction.

pound form, in Fig. l, the upper and lower pairs of latches are united by a connecting rod 73cc that such latches on either side of the gatenray be simultaneously operated. The lifting of the upper latch twill therehy result in the upward movement of the lower'one, so that the keepers 5 will be dis? engaged by both of said latches at the same time, permitting the gate tobe swung in the opposite direction therefrom. By supporting theupper latch at on the shoulder 801": the guide-plate both of such latches will be retained in an elevated position, so that the same will not interfere with the closing of the gate again. A person passing through the gate will therefore not he put to the necessity of returning Withdre gate to the post to again raise the latches, but can merely swing the gate back to a closing position. When thegate returns to the post the latch 4 on the opposite sidefrom the raised one comes contact with the keeper 5, as shown in Fig.3, arresting the movement of the gate. the sudden stoppage unseats the raised latch and'permits it to fall again into engagement with the keeper, so that the gate is again held in locked relation with the post. i

lt will he ohvious that when it is desired to swing the gate to the other side of the post, the operation just described can be repeated with the latch on the opposite side The jolt occasioned by The latches 4 may be provided with a series'of openings 9, for pivotal purposes, so that the position of the latch-can be adjusted to conform to the spacing between the end of the gate and the post.

It might be possible for an animal, in rubbing against the gate, to force the latch 4: upwardly until it would pass the keeper, permitting the gate to be pushed open. To prevent suclr a possibility I provide tl e outerends of the latches with inwardly turned lugs 10, which arev capable of engaging the inner-face of the keeper 5, and hold the latches in engagement with the keeper. The more tightly either of such latches is held against thekeeper the more securely it is held from release. In order to release either of the latches, when desired, it is necessary to swing the gate a slight dis tance in one direction or the ether,,until the lug on the end of the latch will not interfere with the upward movement thereof.

As illustrated, the keeper. is of greater width than the edgeof-the gate, and if the latches were attached closely against the 'r'ace of such gate it-would be impossible to swing the gate as just mentioned, to release the lugs. Forthis reason it is necessary to pivot the latches at a little distance from the gate, asv appears in Fig. 2, the flanges of the plates 3; assisting in holding such latches at theprope'r distance from the gate. The slot 7 in the guide-plate is also established at. such ajdistance from the gate as to hold the latch at the desired distance therefrom,

scribed in tiny companion application for mprovements in hmge'and gate structures,

filed simultaneously herewith.

, What I claim as my invention, is:

:1. Ajdevice of the,class described, comprising a latch adapted for normal engage ment with a keeper, and capable of being given a limited lateral movement a guide memberiorsaid latch, adapted tor attachment to agate, andprovided near. its upper end with a latch-rest 'from which thelatch will, be released by the jar resulting from closing the gate. r

2. A device of the class described. comprisingza pair oi latch members adapted for attachmenton'opposite sides of'a gate, and capable of normal engagement with a keeper in fixed positiomsuch latchmen ibers .with said being capable of independent release from said keeper, and means vfor holding either of said latches in an inoperative position so that the same will be released therefrom upon the contact of the other latch with the keeper.

7 3. A devce of the class described. comprising a fixture; a closure adapted for use therewith; a keeper secured to said fixture; a pair of latches pivoted on opposite sides of said closure and normally in engagement with said keeper; and rests for supporting either of said latches out of engagement keeper, such supported latch being liable to release from its support upon contact of the other latch witl. the keeper..

4. A device of the class described, comprising a fixture provided with a latch-retaining means; a gate adzi-lpted for use with said fixture; a pair of latches pivoted on opposite sides of said gate. and normally in engagement with said retaining means; and guides for said latches, fixed to said gate, aml permitting the latches to swing upwardly out of engagement with said retaining means, said guides being provided with means for holding either of said latches in an inoperative position until released there from by the impact of the companion latch against said retaining means.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a fixture; a gate adapted for use therewith; a keeper in form of a vertical bar attached to said fixture; and a pair of latches pivoted on opposite sides of said gate, normally in engagement with said keeper, and provided with inwardly turned lugs adapted to lock said latches against accidental disengagement with said keeper.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a fixture; a gate adapted for use therewith; a keeper in the form of a vertical bar attached to said fixture; a pair of latches pivoted to opposite sides of said gate, normally in engagement with said keeper, and provided with inwardly turned lugs adapted to lock said latches against accidental disengagement withsaid keeper; and means for supporting either of said latches in an inopertaive position so as to be automatically released upon the impact of the other latch against said keeper, upon the gate being swung to a closing position.

7. A device of the class described, comprising a fixture provided with a keeper; a gate adapted for use therewith; a pair of latches pivoted on opposite sides of said gate in spaced-apart relation therewith, and provided on their free ends with means for engagement with said keeper, to prevent accidental release of said latches therefrom.

8. A device of the class described, comrising a fixture provided with a suitable ieeper; a gate adapted for use therewith; a pair oflatches pivoted on opposite sides of provided with means for locking the same against accidental release therefrom; and

guide-plates on-said plates, in which said latches operate, and holding the same in spaced'apart parallel relation with said gate.

9. A device of the class described, comprising a post provided with a suitable keeper; a gate adapted to be connected therewith; a latch adapted for attachment to said gate in adjusted positions, normally in engagement with said keeper; and means for holding said latch out of engagement therewith, liable to release upon closing of the gate.

10. A device of the class described, comprising a post and gate adapted for use therewith; a keeper on said post in form of a vertical bar; cross-plates on said gate having outwardly projected flanges; latches pivoted to said gate on opposite sides there of, held at a desired distance from said gate at one endby said flanges, and normally in engagement with said keeper; guideplates on said gate provided with means for holding said latches in desired position with relation to said gate; and lugs on the outer ends of said latches having opposite engagement with said keeper, and capable of holding said latches against accidental release therefrom. y

11. A device of the class described, comprising a post; a gate adapted for use therewith; keepers on said post at different heights thereon; latches pivoted to the face of said gate, normally in engagement with said keepers; means for supporting said latches in an inoperative position liable to release from the jar caused by closing said gate; and means for. connecting said latches so that they will operate simultaneously.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

STEPHEN A. SLAUSON. 

